Using every potty trick in the book

I wish I knew how to potty train a child. I've had five children transition from diapers to underwear. With each child, I've had a different experi..
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Prep work helps get kids ready

I am not a morning person, so getting ready for school in the morning always presents a challenge for us. My husband, Mike, is an airline pilot, so..
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Keeping kids busy during the summer

Summer's coming, and if you are like me and have young kids who are not old enough to stay home alone, it's time to start planning what to do with ..
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Buck-teeth busters: Put a sock on it

When I was a little girl, I had the crookedest buck teeth because I sucked my thumb for many years. I used to smile with my mouth closed so no one ..
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What's a mother to do when the food pyramid falls?

The U.S. Department of Agriculture designed the Food Guide Pyramid to promote healthy nutrition in children as a general guide to daily food choice..
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Spanking's usefulness can vary

Disciplining children can be a very touchy subject, so deciding to write about ways to discipline children may demonstrate my complete lack of comm..
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Disney's magic takes planning

Our family of 7, including one 5-year-old girl, 7-year-old triplets, and a 17-year-old son, RJ, finally went on a family vacation to Disney. To kee..
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Mom finds deals for Disney vacation

Six months ago, I decided it was time to take the kids to Disney World. Orlando is only about a six-hour drive. We constantly get calls on these gr..
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Learning homework role pays off for parents

I've learned a lot about my role with my children's homework. I used to tell RJ exactly what he did wrong, how to correct it and make it perfect an..
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This parent, interrupted, living loud

Controlled chaos - that is the best description I've heard for my household. With a teenager, three 6-year-old boys and a very spoiled 5-year-old g..
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On leaving kids home alone

I always thought there was a legal age for when a child was allowed to stay home alone. According to the Administration for Children and Families o..
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Mom of new driver no easy rider

As my oldest son approached his high school years, I dreaded the day he would get his driver's license. He was very anxious to get his license. So ..
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Remember sales tax and don't forget the change

Financial responsibility and the value of money are tough concepts to teach kids.

I've never given my children an allowance because of my p..
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The five rules work in spirit if not in body

In a civilized society, we are all expected to abide by rules. In my house, we have five rules that everyone knows:

1. Don't play ball in t..
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Ouch, 1, 2, 3: Mom has a few tricksup her sleeve to survive flu shot day

As a working mother of several children, one of the things I dread the most is a sick child. The wonderful ladies at our children's schools know wh..
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Early intervention paid off for son

As a parent, one of the hardest things to do is to admit when one of my babies isn't perfect.

My oldest son, RJ, is getting ready to gradua..
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Managing one child piece of cake, managing more takes creativity

Based on the makeup and age gaps of the children in my family, I have experienced raising an only child, multiples and stair-stepped children. So, ..
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'Christmas is all around and so the feeling grows,' at least for this family

Editor's note: This is the first in a series of columns by working mother Lisa Brown. She and her airline pilot husband, Mike,..
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